David Silver of DeepMind Raises $1.1B to Develop an AI Learning Independently of Human Data

Ineffable Intelligence, a British AI lab recently founded by ex-DeepMind researcher David Silver, has secured $1.1 billion in funding, reaching a $5.1 billion valuation. Aiming to develop an AI “superlearner” that can discover knowledge without human data, Ineffable employs reinforcement learning, Silver’s specialty. Formerly a leading figure in DeepMind’s reinforcement learning team, Silver contributed to AI programs that outperformed professional players in chess and Go without human strategies, notably AlphaZero. The company’s website claims their AI breakthrough could rival Darwin’s scientific impact. Any profits for Silver will go to life-saving charities. Led by Sequoia Capital and Lightspeed Venture Partners, the funding round included Google, Nvidia, the British Business Bank, and Sovereign AI. Achieving “pentacorn” status, Ineffable follows trends of AI startups led by notable researchers drawing large seed rounds. Similar U.K.-based firms, like Recursive Superintelligence, suggest London’s growing significance as an AI hub, bolstered by DeepMind’s continued influence and other aspirant labs like Jeff Bezos’ Project Prometheus seeking proximity to Google’s AI base. Several former DeepMind staff are expected to join Ineffable’s executive team.